PORTABILITY POSITIVES

July 10, 2011 Comments Off on PORTABILITY POSITIVES

It is easy to find problems with something or to claim that it will not work. Previously, I blogged about the arguments that many attorneys are using against portability in an effort to avoid change. It is much more difficult to champion something, to investigate, and to find a way to explain how something may […]

SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS A NEW WEBSITE

July 7, 2011 Comments Off on SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS A NEW WEBSITE

If you are not familiar with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation you are doing yourself and your clients a disservice. Check out their new, redesigned website at www.siliconvalleycf.org. They are an excellent resource for charitable giving information, and they provide support and administration for various charitable trusts and foundations. They also have an excellent Donor […]

6 ARGUMENTS AGAINST PLANNING FOR PORTABILITY ON THE FIRST DEATH

July 3, 2011 Comments Off on 6 ARGUMENTS AGAINST PLANNING FOR PORTABILITY ON THE FIRST DEATH

6 ARGUMENTS AGAINST PLANNING FOR PORTABILITY It seems like all I hear or read from other lawyers are all of the problems and uncertainties that exist in Portability Planning in the client’s estate plan. Last week I listened to another attorney go on and on about the best course of action to take: “Keep Doing […]

Almaden Valley Principal Wins National Award

July 1, 2011 Comments Off on Almaden Valley Principal Wins National Award

Liz Chamberlin, Principal of Leland High School in the Almaden Valley is the years top principal according to the National Forensics League (Speech & Debate). I am proud to say that I was a member of the Speech & Debate team at Leland when I was in high school. (I even won a couple of […]

If You Love San Jose

June 26, 2011 Comments Off on If You Love San Jose

Our law office is based in San Jose, California. I recently came across a wonderful blog all about San Jose. I thought you might enjoy. www.thesanjoseblog.com

QUALIFIED PERSONAL RESIDENCE TRUST (PART 1)

June 19, 2011 Comments Off on QUALIFIED PERSONAL RESIDENCE TRUST (PART 1)

The Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is an important and valuable estate tax planning technique for efficiently transfering the value of your primary residence or vacation home to your children on a tax advantaged basis. The QPRT is an Irrevocable Trust which takes advantage of certain provisions in the tax code to allow you to […]

Eight Suggestions Every Parent Should Examine To Make Sure Their Estate Planning Is Up To Date

June 12, 2011 Comments Off on Eight Suggestions Every Parent Should Examine To Make Sure Their Estate Planning Is Up To Date

It’s All My Kids Fault 🙂 A recent article in the San Jose Mercury News suggested that young children may make parents less fit. As many of you know, my wife and I adopted two young girls from Russia a few years ago. They are 5 & 4 now. And I am out of shape. […]

Santa Clara Alum Wins First Trial

June 2, 2011 Comments Off on Santa Clara Alum Wins First Trial

My best friend from law school (Santa Clara University School of Law) was Hilary Newcomb. She is now a Trust & Estates Litigation attorney in Portland, OR. We work with her occasionally on our client’s litigation matters in San Jose. Because her billing rate is lower, it saves our clients money. Yesterday, she won her […]

Help Choosing a Guardian for your Children

June 1, 2011 Comments Off on Help Choosing a Guardian for your Children

Choosing a qualified Guardian for your children is one of the most difficult things my clients ever have to do. For many, they can’t do the rest of their estate planning until they resolve this issue. And then the planning doesn’t get done. Here are a few suggestions and tips to naming a Guardian for […]

5 TIPS FOR MAKING INTRAFAMILY LOANS

February 14, 2011 Comments Off on 5 TIPS FOR MAKING INTRAFAMILY LOANS

by: Raymond Sheffield One of the best strategies for clients with wealth is to find ways to maximize the value and economic efficiency of that weath in a way that benefits the family without increasing the tax impact on the client’s estate. An intrafamily loan is often an excellent strategy. Loans to the children and […]